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  Pope Names New Bishop Following Porn Charges

By Amy Husser
Montreal Gazette
November 22, 2009

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Pope+names+bishop+following+porn+charges/2252569/story.html

Scandal has rocked N.S. community

A new bishop has been appointed to lead a Roman Catholic community in Nova Scotia that was stunned and outraged after child pornography charges were laid against its previous spiritual leader.

And newly named Bishop Brian Joseph Dunn says he knows he faces major challenges in dealing with the fallout of a scandal that stretched from the Diocese of Antigonish right across the country.

"I'm excited about the appointment," Dunn said yesterday. "I am very happy to be able serve the people of Antigonish. But there's also lots of hesitation as I look and see the difficulties that seem to be ahead of me."

Dunn was named by Pope Benedict XVI to replace Raymond Lahey.

Lahey was charged on Sept. 25 with possessing and importing child pornography after a search of his laptop at an Ottawa airport allegedly discovered the graphic images.

Two weeks before his arrest, Lahey had surprised the Antigonish diocese by suddenly announcing his resignation. The 69-year-old had overseen a historic, $15-million legal settlement to victims of priest sexual abuse in his diocese, before announcing that he was stepping down for "personal reasons."

Lahey is living at a Catholic priests' residence in Ottawa while awaiting his next court appearance on Dec. 16.

Dunn has most recently been an auxiliary bishop with the Catholic diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, in northern Ontario. Speaking from his office there yesterday, Dunn said he was excited and nervous to take on the role.

Dunn, 54, will likely be front and centre as the Catholic Church tries to deal with Nova Scotia parishioners who have expressed outraged over the charges against Lahey.

"I'm hoping to just be with them to know how they are hurting and how they need to be healed," Dunn said. "Hopefully we can work together to bring healing to the whole situation."

Dunn said he expects to be in his new post by January.

 
 

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